Fear of the Outsider, the interloper, the alien
Is as old as humanity itself.
Xenophobia doesn’t just apply to someone foreign
And “not like us”,
It applies to anyone who may threaten
Our way of life, the status quo, the norm
And way “it’s always been.”
From local bar to climbing crag, surfing beach,
Ghetto corner, and Union shop floor,
The locals, sometimes multigenerational deep,
Tend to claim their turf
With the worst of human qualities;
Fear and loathing
Sublimated into snide ostracism,
Backstabbing gossip and withering looks
If not fully expressed with seething hate
Slander, bullying and assault.
Meanwhile life goes on for the Xeno
Head down, eyes averted, pathways diverted,
While in their heart
They recognize the love their haters have
For their cherished way of life and ground
Is not exclusive
And no different from their own.
(9/6/25)
When two ants engaged in territorial fight;
Ant army around awaiting the result right;
And I was filming the war despite their bites
Wrestling, boxing and kung-fu, they played;
Did stunts; Like true warriors they portrayed;
Rolled on the ground, their power they displayed
I named the right one as 'Tred' ;
The left one as ' Red'
And I loved Tred as he was steady;
I was wondering, Who would win?
Tred or red? The right one? Or the left one?
Oops! I missed their places while they were rolling on!!!
Our foes languish by our feet
For their obstinacy erased every thought of retreat
On and on they kept coming in a huge fleet
Our gallant soldiers they were ever ready to meet
Swords dangled and clanged in mid-air
These fools failed to reckon they were in the lions’ lair
Screams of hurt and pain as sharp edges caused deep wounds
Their blood oozed with every bite from our wild hounds
Now their stubbornness vanish like the fading harmattan
Their surviving cowards take to their heels and ran
Their plan for battle was archaic and vintage
Plus, we were heavily favored by territorial advantage
Everytime I see your face my heart smiles
My curly brown haired
It's like it's been forever
My eyes feeding on your picture imprinted in my mind
It's taken forever to leave
Your castle embedded in my soul
Your smile hits me hard like the sun's ray at noon
Smithing the grey shadowy clouds of fearsome worry
Of a never see you again
I refuse to believe I can come to terms
The reality of you staring my eyes,binding,blinding
Can I get your shades?
My don in the academia
Running,longing,burning away in set pieces
Makes me feel your metallic core
Lounging lazily ploundering endlessly
I,left in this world with a you
A big floating ball tossed amongst us
As lows and highs mingling,switching positions
In hands of us who decides what happens
In our territorial district